The Three C's of Health Literacy: Improving Our Communication for Better Patient Outcomes

Karen Brown, MA, Program Director, Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center, Ithaca College

A person’s health literacy is defined as the degree to which an individual can find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others (Healthy People 2030, 2022). The goal of this session is to shift the burden of understanding from the individual to those who communicate health information. Health providers who communicate clearly, confirm understanding, and are effective in cross-cultural communication can empower patients to make informed decisions (CDC, 2022).